Primary cell



l. C. BLAKE PRIMARY CELL Sept. 30, 1952 Filed April 24, 1951 Patented Sept. 30, 1952 UNITED:

. faiassslf APimviARY CELL;

IvantCLBlakey.Freeport, Ill., Iassignorito':.Biirgeisai:

Batteryompany,i-1Feeport, Ill); .a :corporation:V 'f

offfDelaWare a ApplicatiorrApril'24;1951,iSeriai No.2225706" v .greater electrolytic activity`= of'fmagnesiumv inl# comparisontoI that rof-'ithe commonly usedfmetal i l0` Zinc," with the resulting higher voltagelandgreatL er-fcurrent delivering-powers vof the-cells employingemagnesium: Howeven much1J diiii'cultyhas been]-encounteredinl they use of =`lmagnesium-1ffbecause of Aits great susceptibility: tospontaneous 15 corrosion, with resulting deterioration of the cells when in storageor onvshelffv Cells having I magnesium negative `electrodes andl -waterA as thesolvent of 'fthe' electrolyte' yare f known and@ it is these cel-lsvwhich-y are subject l2() to the dii'culty Vmentioned!heretofore;A

Iii theA copending application of. #Joseph J .'S Coleman and Demetrios V1.1 L'ouzosn. Seriall Nm 613244,'flled- November 205 1948;lnowmUJSL-Patent' 2,597,451.lgrantedlVIay'ZIM-71952;1 aprimary cell-A25 is @disclosedhavingmagnesium A"asfthe negati-verelectrode and ani electrolyte l-in: which-the solvent .Pf component is 'meth'anol 'and the solute componenti is {from ythei group Y consistingsfof the' chlorides/,L1 nitrates and iperchlo'ratesl'ofY imagn'esiumf .and metals #electronegativef tof-magnesium:n Such-' a!- cell" possessesvsubstantial current-:delivering properties and shelf life.

In accordance with the present inventionfa celI-fis'provided having magnesium f as vthe -negative-'electrodeland having an electrolyte inv which" thea-solute@componenti is 1 -a compound -1 froml the s group consisting ofj the fchloridea nitratesA andperchloratescf --magnesium and-the metals -elec= troneg-ative to magnesium and-f--the-solvent come-405;

ponent 1^ is -la mixture of" water-' and lmeth'anols- There is incorporatedinthe cellla compound-con-l f taining chromiumgsuch? as r chromiumL trioxideand the/salt'sof chror'niclacid.v It hasbeenriound capacity '-th'anf similar-'f cells employing 'methanolalone 'a's'ith'e solvent, andhas la substantial'. shelf` lifeg Within--certain .rangesfofrf proportions of-l l the-fmixturefof Vwater 'and methanol, the -voell has-Y i greaterv capacity'` thanv a .similariy cell-:employing:A 50i' Other/objects and/advantages Vwill'lcecome apparent f as lathe following description progresses'.A

While the invention relates tothe composition-v of the c'ell, it *willl be described in connectionwithf a'speciicembodimentl- Such embodiment is il-1 lustratilv'e only,` andthe .ceumay bem any desired physical form.

The ysingle gure of the drawing isa sectional elevation Vof' lthelsaidspeoic embodiment'. I

T-li'e single cell' illustrated is of flat wafer shape andy fis-especially adapted ifor use :in `-a relatively high 1 voltage -floatteryf inf vwhich a plurality of` the cells 44are carranged-in -stacked relation andA con-y nected togetherin `series.= The-cell ismade up `of'juxtaposed dat elements consisting of, inthe -f order/named,` thelnegative electrode I 0;-the -bibu -v lous separating member I 2 g. the depolarizing mix I 4 fland the: positive electrode- I 6?- Tliewbibulous separator. I2,- in addi-tionfto covering VVthe-surfaceA -ofthe#negativefelectrode -I @facing-the #depolariz ing--mii -I4,l preferablycoversr the edgeslof- 'the electrode" I 01 and -th'e marginal portions of VVthe -f oppositelsurface'thereoff Therseparator lI2"and f the .depolarizingfmix I I 4! are liquid absorbent and areA moistened with-the. liquid electrolyte; which The said elements-fareenclosedin 1 an'- envelope I8 lof Y' a'- non''condu`:ti'v `e';v liduidiirnpervious1,-V electrolyte resistant 'lsheet fm'aterial,-'Which may 1 be-'a iiexible l Jilin: of'lrubber hydrochloride,v a-lpolymer of ethwill:l be described' infdetail f hereinafter.

ylene, the copolymer of vinyl chloride and-"vinyl acetatev or# 4the frlile:

The envelope maygbe ormed in any suitable mannerandfithatishownlin the drawing-is' formed Eby flplacingtonesedge. of :fthe assembled elements against the median` portion of al sheet ofV the envelo'pe materialL and foldingfthe latter so that theportions thereof-'on oppositesides-fofl the fold covertthe .fopposite'abroadf surfaces of the assemls' .bledielementsi and extend beyond the Ledges' theres` of. The'fextendingportions gare then; joinedtof: getheiwby.;l an. adhesive` or :byf heat-sealingp;to form thejoint indicated at 20.' I Openingsjtor win-r deurs-2.2. ofr .substantial size are provided *inl .they-y broadportionsof` thev envelope. I8

the negative and.,positiv.e electrodes.. I0 and ...I Gf respectiyely. Said openings are.. in. alignment... with each' Aother and .1a number of vthe cells'` are.,

adapted'to be .stacked together. in .pressureh engagement to jformi'abattery with theI negative" electrode A'I 010i" one' cell suitably connected tothe-- positive'electrode-I B" of thefadjacent cell' through* th Windows 22;.l

Als-statedy heretofore@ the negative electrodeI I 0 553'is:-c'omposed-'fi ofe magnesiumw The sepiatratingvy which overlie member I2 may be composed of a suitable bibulous material, such as absorbent paper or pulp. The depolarizing mix I4 may be composed of a mixture of ak suitable oxidizing agent and a conductive agent, such as carbon or graphite. Examples of suitable oxidizing agents are manganese dioxide, lead dioxide, cupric oxide, silver chloride, the persulfates of sodium and potassium, or the like. Silver chloride is itself conductive. and Where it is used a separate conductive agent is not required. A mixture of nely divided manganese dioxide and` carbon has been found to be very satisfactory. The positive electrode I5 may be a flexible sheet, the conductive factor of .which is carbon. Such conductive sheet material is known and may be composed of carbon particles cemented together by a binder or it may be a porous fabric sheet, such as cotton, rayon, and

the like impregnated and coated with the car-v bonaceous composition.

In accordance with the present invention, the solvent component of the electrolyte is a mixture of Water and methanol. The proportions of ythe mixture may be varied and improved performance has been obtained With amounts of Water up to 70% of the Weight of the mixture. The preferred proportions are about 20% tod 50% 'of Water. g

For the solute component, a compound is suitable Which is substantially soluble in the solvent and forms therewith an electrolytically conductive solution, V'and which in such solution is electrolytically reactive toward the negative electrode. Compounds which have been found to be suitable are the chlorides, nitrates` and perchlorates of magnesium and the metals which are ele'ctronegative with respect to magnesium in the solution, which includes essentially those metals which are at least as high as magnesiuml in the electromotive series. At ordinary temper-j atures magnesium perchlorate exists in the anhydrous form and in the form of various hydrates, and magnesium chloride and magnesium nitrate are normally in the form of the hexahydrates MgClzHzO and Mg(NO3)2.6I-I2O. Any, of

these forms is suitable for use and for convenience the compounds will herein be referred to as the chloride, nitrate and perchlorate respectively. Mixtures of the mentioned compounds may be used. The described chlorides and nitrates are preferred.

In accordance with the present invention, there is included in the cell a compound from the group of Water are suitable, barium chromate being an y example of such a compound. Chromium triy oxide and the chromate and dichromate of sodium have been used with excellent results. As is well known, chromium trioxidel is the anhydride of f chromic acid, and in the electrolyte it exists in solution in the Water as chromic acid. Any one of the compounds described, or a mixture thereof, may be used. For convenience, such inhibiting 4 compound will herein be'called the chromium compound.

The chromium compound may be incorporated in the cell in any desired manner, as by introducing it directly into the electrolyte, or incorporating it in the separating member I2 or the depolarizing mix I4. The manner in which the inhibiting function is accomplished is not understood, but it is believed to be by the chromium compounds being present at the surface of the negative electrode I0 which is exposed tothe electrolyte. Since the chromium compound is soluble to at least a slight degree'in the Water of the electrolyte solvent, and the separating member, I2 and depolarizingv mix Ill are moistened with the electrolyte, if the chromium compound is incorporated in these elements it is subsequently dissolved in the electrolyte and becomes `available at the surface of the negative electrode.

It is therefore, only required that the chromium compound be accessible to the electrolyte, that is, that the compound be in access relation With the electrolyte. The electrolyte, in turn, is in contact with the negative electrode.

The amount of chromium compound which may be used isnot critical'. Only a small amount is required, and an excessive amount should be avoided since this results in a waste of the compound and may interfere with the proper oper- Y vation of the cell. Amounts of chromium compound which have been used With success are about .01% to 5.0 in terms of CrOs based on the weight of the yWater in the solvent component, by which is meant in the specification and claims `the free Water and does not include the combined water Which may be present, such as the v water of hydration of the solute. l

A specific example of aA primary cell of the invention is one in which the physical structure is as describedheretofore, the negative electrode I0 is of magnesium, the depolarizer Ill is a mix- Y ture of nely divided manganese dioxide and thermal acetylene black, the positive electrode I6 is of carbon, the electrolyte is a solution in whichV I the solvent is a mixture of substantially equal parts by Weight of Water and methanol and the solute is magnesium chloride hexahydrate in an amount substantially equal in weight to that of the solvent, and sodium chromate is included Vin theelectrolyte containing CrOs in an amount equalto approximately 0.06% of the Weight of the free VWater in the solvent component. The initial open circuit voltage of such a cell is approximately 2.4 volts.

The ,table given hereinafter shows performance data which illustrate the .benefits obtained from the invention. A number of batteries each composed of nine series-connected cells were tested for their energy delivering capacity. The

.cells were of the same structure as in the foregoing example except that in the different batteries they had different proportions of Water and methanol in the solvent component o-f the elec-v Y trolyteas indicated in the table. One group of the batteries was tested when they'were fresh, p

thatis, within-i8 hours after manufactureand another,V group was tested lafter being in storage at about F. for three months. In the tests, the batteries werel continuously discharged by being connected to a load circuit having 15,000 ohms resistance. In each case, the elapsed discharge time Was noted when vthe voltage of the batteryhad dropped to v1.67 volts per cell. AEach value given is the average of the results for a number of similar batteries.-

The data given in the table show that superior performance is obtained with a solvent mixture Acontaining about 20% to 50% of water. A subeven less produces a substantial advantage. As y the water content is increased to between 40% and 50%, the shelf life begins to decline but it remains greater than with 100% methanol. With a water content of 80% the fresh capacity is very good but the shelf life is undesirably low, and experience has shown that about 70% is the maximum Water content which will provide improved capacity and, satisfactory shelf life. The presence of the chromium compound and a substantial amount of methanol is required to inhibit spontaneous corrosion of the magnesium electrode and provide a substantial -shelf life. The data show that with a water content of 40% to 50% the fresh capacity is greater than with 100% water.

What is claimed is:

1. In a primary cell having a positive electrode and a magnesium negative electrode, an electrolyte in contact with said electrodes having a solvent component comprising a mixture of Water and methanol, and a compound in access relation with said electrolyte from the group consisting of chromic acid and the salts of chromic acid having at least a slight degree of solubility in water.

2. In a primary cell having a positive electrode and a magnesium negative electrode, an electrolyte in contact with said electrodes having a solvent component comprising a mixture of water and methanol and a solute component comprising a compound from the group consisting of the chlorides, nitrates and perchlorates of magnesium and of the metals electronegative to'magnesium in said electrolyte, and a compound in access relation with said electrolytefrom the group consisting of chromic acid and the salts of chromic acid having at least a slight degree of solubility in water.

3. The primary cell as claimed in claim 2 in which the proportion by weight of waterin the Water-methanol mixture is up to 4. The primary cell as claimed inclaim 2 in which the proportions by weight of water in the water-methanol mixture is about 20% to 50%.

5. The primary cellas claimed in claim 2 in which the amount of CrO3 in the compound from the group consisting of chromic acid and the salts of chromic acid is about .01% to 5.0% of the weight of the water in the solvent component of the electrolyte.

IVAN C. BLAKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Datev 2,343,194 Lawson Feb. 29, 1944 2,428,850 Lawson Oct. 14, 1947 2,547,907 Fry Apr. 3, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 13,807 Great Britain of 1890 

1. IN A PRIMARY CELL HAVING A POSITIVE ELECTRODE AND A MAGNESIUM NEGATIVE ELECTRODE, AN ELECTROLYTE IN CONTACT WITH SAID ELECTRODES HAVING A SOLVENT COMPONENT COMPRISING A MIXTURE OF WATER AND METHANOL, AND A COMPOUND IN ACCESS RELATION WITH SAID ELECTROLYTE FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF CHROMIC ACID AND THE SALTS OF CHROMIC 